REGIONAL NATIONAL CEMETERY IMPROVEMENT CORP. P.O. BOX 4221 FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS 72702 PAST ITEMS ABOUT THE RNCIC. RNCIC ANNUAL MEETING HELD JANUARY 12, 2013 Elections for the Board of Directors and Officers for 2013 were completed. RNCIC ANNUAL MEETING SET FOR JANUARY 12, 2013 AT 10:30 AM Main item on the agenda is election of Board of Directors members. All RNCIC members are invited. There will be a short ceremony before at 10:00 am at the National Cemetery. LETTER TO THE EDITOR RNCIC VP Merle Williams sent a letter of thanks to the Fayetteville newspaper which was published December 21, 2012. 4TH ANNUAL VETERAN'S MEMORIAL 5K RACE 8:00 A.M. ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2012 AT THE FAYETTEVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY. All proceeds will go for the expansion of the cemetery. Registration Fees: $25 early and $30 day of the race. Send registration fees to Veteran's Memorial 5 K Race, C/O RNCIC, P.O. Box 4221, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. Contact Ron Butler for info on being a sponsor, making a donation or to assist in anyway. Click for more information: Race Brochure, Race Information Letter, and Race Sponsorships. Sign up online HERE. MANY THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS FOR 2012 Medal of Honor - $1000 Distinguished Service - $500 Silver Star - $250 Bronze Star - $100 Thanks to everyone who helped make the race a success. We hope to pay off the loan we took out for the purchase of the lot on Hill Avenue. It is in the process of being donated to the National Cemetery. Photos of the race may be viewed HERE. A HUGE THANK YOU to all involved in the race - runners, sponsors and volunteers. We raised enough money to repay the money we borrowed to buy our last land purchase. The paper work has been submitted to the VA in Washington, DC to donate the lots we currently own to the National Cemetery. THE HOUSE IS READY TO MOVE Here is a picture of the Brantley house being moved. It's currently sitting on the trailer, on Lot #20 A. They'll try to get it moved early Sunday morning, September 16, 2012 if all the permits, etc. are completed. If not, it'll be the following Sunday morning. The cleanup & leveling will be done soon. - Ron Butler, RNCIC President (9/13/12) CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION The RNCIC received this certificate in August from the Fayetteville National Cemetery. Many thanks to our supporters who have made land acquisition possible to enlarge the cemetery and keep it open for burials. HOUSE FOR SALE - MUST BE MOVED Lot 20, at 1098 S. Hill Avenue in Fayetteville, Arkansas, which the RNCIC just bought, has a small 840 sq. ft. house on it. The house must be moved or razed before we can donate the land to the Fayetteville National Cemetery. It would make a dandy cabin in the woods or at the lake. Contact Ron Butler at 479-750-2598 or wedunit@att.net for more info. The house has been sold to the House Movers for a fee of $1.00 and the cleanup of the area to meet VA requirements. The move of the house may take place this weekend or next; the plan is to get it moved away from the foundation so they can accomplish the cleanup, then at a later time, move the house to it's new location. -Ron Butler, RNCIC President (8/22/12) RNCIC YARD SALE ON JUNE 8 & 9, 2012 The RNCIC will host a yard sale at the house mentioned above located at 1098 S. Hill Avenue in Fayetteville, Arkansas on Friday and Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm, June 8 & 9, 2012. Come by and do some shopping. All proceeds will go toward buying land for the Fayetteville National Cemetery. WE CLOSED ON LOTS 20 and 20a on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. Marked in red on the photograph. The RNCIC borrowed money to make the purchase so memberships and donations are more important than ever. RNCIC ANNUAL MEETING HELD JANUARY 14, 2012 A new Board of Directors was elected along with officers for 2012 COMBAT VETERANS MOTORCYCLE ASSOCIATION DONATES $1,000 TO RNCIC Steve "Top" Real, CVMA Commander, presented a check for $1,000 to Ron Butler, RNCIC President, at a ceremony on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at the Fayetteville National Cemetery before the Wreaths Across America event was held. We are grateful for the donation. Click on pix for larger photos. L-R: Ron and Steve, Ron and other CMVA members with check, the big check and both RNCIC and CVMA crews. SUSANNAH PORTER BEQUEATHS $20,000 TO RNCIC Susannah Adair Handy Porter of Fayetteville died Saturday, August 20, 2011. Her bequest of $20,000 to the RNCIC was received November 22, 2011. Both Susannah and her husband, James Lee Porter, are buried in the Fayetteville National Cemetery. Read Susannah's obituary to see what an extraordinary person she was. We are very grateful to her for the bequest and it will be used in our next land purchase. THE 3RD ANNUAL VETERAN'S MEMORIAL 5K RACE WAS HELD ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2011 AT THE FAYETTEVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY. All proceeds went for the expansion of the cemetery. Registration Fees: $25 early and $30 day of the race. Send registration fees to Veteran's Memorial 5 K Race, C/O RNCIC, P.O. Box 4221, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. Contact Roger McClain for info on being a sponsor, making a donation or to assist in anyway. Click for more information: Race Brochure, Race Letter, and Race Sponsors. You may sign up online HERE! Take a look at our SPONSORS! who supported the race and give them your business. Check the complete races results here: Overall Finish List and Age Group Results Click on pix for larger photos. L-R: RNCIC crew, Start of race, Kalani Holleman - female winner and Kyle Schmidt - male winner. FIRST TWO LIFE MEMBERSHIPS PRESENTED President Ron Butler presents life membership #1 to Jake Lamkins and #2 to Lorna Sterrett at the RNCIC meeting on September 10, 2011. MEMBERSHIP DRIVE STARTING JULY 19, 2011 The following Membership dues have been approved by the RNCIC Board of Directors: Lifetime $500 Sustaining $100 per year Supporting $ 35 per year Family $ 20 per year Individual $ 10 per year We invite you to express your interest in a membership. This entitles you to attend our monthly meetings on the second Saturday of every month (except December), 10:30 a.m., at the American Legion Post 27, 1195 So. Curtis Ave., Fayetteville, AR. If that is not a consideration at this time, perhaps you would like to make a donation to the RNCIC in memory of or in honor of an individual. A membership form is shown for your consideration. Right click, save to your computer and print out. Membership dues are being accepted now. We already have our first Lifetime Member, and would like to add your name to the roll in any category that suits you. We have recently purchased two properties on Hill Ave. which will give the RNCIC a block of four properties to turn over to the VA for future burial sites at the Fayetteville National Cemetery. However, we still have a lot of work ahead of us with fund raising to purchase additional properties. WE NEED YOUR HELP AND PARTICIPATION! Make your check payable to RNCIC and mail it to P.O. Box 4221, Fayetteville, AR 72702. You will receive a membership card by return mail. Thank you! CLOSING ON LOT 15 We closed on the Wilson Property (Lot #15) on Monday, 18 July at 0900 Bronson Abstract Company, 3810 Front Street, Suite 5, Fayetteville. -Ron Butler, RNCIC President AMENDED BYLAWS APPROVED JULY 9, 2011 TO BECOME EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2012. A twelve person Board of Directors with staggered three year terms will govern the RNCIC. Elections to the Board will take place at the Annual Membership Meeting in January, 2012. Officers from among the Board members will be elected at a Board of Directors meeting immediately after the Membership Meeting. They will serve for the calendar year. JULY 6, 2011 LETTER TO THE EDITOR BY RNCIC MEMBER BUDD SAUNDERS. RNCIC BUYS ANOTHER LOT RNCIC SIGNED A SALE CONTRACT ON LOT 15 AT 976 S. HILL AVENUE ON JUNE 3, 2011. Razing lot 17 is near completion and lot 15 clearance can only start after the renters have vacated the premises. They will have 60 days to do so under the sale contract. Lots 16 and 18 are cleared and ready for donation. This will give us a block of FOUR lots to give the VA - Lots 15-16-17-18 all on the east side of Hill Avenue. MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY WILL BE ON MONDAY, MAY 30, 2011 AT THE FAYETTEVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY. RNCIC BUYING MORE LAND CLOSING DATE FOR SALE OF LOT 17 AT 1048 S. HILL AVENUE (SEE CEMETERY MAP) IS APRIL 22, 2011. This will give us a block of three lots to give the VA - Lots 16-17-18. We are barely staying ahead of burials which have already started in the last lot we donated. Effective this afternoon, April 25, 2011, Lot #17 on Hill Avenue belongs to the Regional National Cemetery Improvement Corporation!!! I thank each & every person and donor that has made this possible. Of course, our next objective has to be Lot #15. As of this time, I have not received a response to our offer. However, I expect to hear something in time for our next meeting. Again, my thanks, -Ron Butler, RNCIC President Article from January 5, 2011. The MOAA's second $1000 donation plus they were a 2010 race sponsor. CEMETERY EXPANSION COMPLETED Photos taken November 19, 2010. Expansion possible due to RNCIC land donation. All pix are from Hill Avenue looking east. 2ND ANNUAL VETERAN'S MEMORIAL 5K RACE 8:00 AM ON SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2010 AT THE FAYETTEVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY. All proceeds will go for the expansion of the cemetery. Registration Fees: $25 early and $30 day of the race. Send registration fees to Veteran's Memorial 5 K Race, C/O RNCIC, P.O. Box 4221, Fayetteville, Arkansas 72701. Contact Roger McClain for info on being a sponsor, making a donation or to assist in anyway. Click for more information: Race Brochure, Race Letter, and Race Sponsors. Online registration for the 5K Race. Take a look at the race route. MANY, MANY THANKS TO OUR RACE SPONSORS! Two sponsors inadvertently left off list: Sam's Club and Hiland Dairy. Thanks to all concerned - $7200 made to buy land for the cemetery. RACE RESULTS RACE PHOTOS Article from September 28, 2010. UPDATE ON THE CEMETERY EXPANSION. Photos taken August 14, 2010. All pix are from Hill Avenue looking east. AUGUST 14, 2010 IS THE 65TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WORLD WAR II TAPS WILL BE PLAYED AT 7:00 PM AT THE FAYETTEVILLE NATIONAL CEMETERY. $75,000 DONATION MADE BY DON TYSON. on behalf of himself and Tyson Foods on May 28, 2010. Click on thumbnail for large pic. Pictured are Don Tyson, Archie Schaeffer, Peggy McClain and Roger McClain. Archie is a Tyson Official, Peggy is the RNCIC Secretary and Roger is RNCIC President. View the Tyson Foods News Release and the Channel 5 News Video. GREAT ARTICLE IN THE APRIL 26, 2010 NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TIMES. Click on thumbnail for large pic. CEMETERY EXPANSION UNDERWAY. On land donated by the RNCIC. Click on thumbnail for large pic. These four pix are facing west toward the Hill Avenue lot in April, 2010. Other lots on Hill Avenue are available for sale. However, we need more money to buy them. These four pix are facing north and east toward Government Avenue. PAST NEWS ARTICLES. November 9, 2003 Democrat-Gazette article about veteran's cemeteries November 9, 2003 Morning News article about the RNCIC November 9, 2003 Morning News article Second page of article November 9, 2003 Morning News article Third page of article November 9, 2003 Morning News article Fourth page of article February 21, 2004 Times article about the RNCIC March 20, 2005 Times article about the RNCIC March 20, 2005 Times article Second page of article April 16, 2005 Times article $45,000 needed badly for lot April 16, 2005 Times article Second page of article July 27, 2006 WRVN article Operation Garden Of Stone July 31, 2007 Times article Cemetery growth closer July 31, 2007 Times article Second page of article August 2, 2007 WRVN article Recent donations October 25, 2007 Times article Four lots donated October 25, 2007 Times article Second page of article May 17, 2008 Times article Write off loan May 17, 2008 Times article Second page of article May 26, 2008 Times article VP Milo Cumpston featured May 26, 2008 Times article Second page of article October 3, 2008 Democrat-Gazette article Cemetery gets donation October 3, 2008 Democrat-Gazette article Second page of article News article of October 3, 2008 RNCIC donates land to National Cemetery News article of October 3, 2008 Second page of article Times article of October 3, 2008 Land donation expands cemetery April 10, 2009 article in the Northwest Arkansas Times VP Milo Cumpston passes away April 10, 2009 article in the Northwest Arkansas Times Second page of article August 10, 2009 article in the Northwest Arkansas Times by Fran Alexander about the RNCIC, the cemetery and other thoughts September 12, 2009 article in the Morning News about the RNCIC concentrating on buying lots near the cemetery September 14, 2009 article in the Morning News Keller Williams Realty gives RNCIC nearly $500 September 14, 2009 article in the Morning News Close up of photo in the article September 14, 2009 article in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette Keller Williams Realty gives RNCIC nearly $500 November 8, 2009 article in the NW Arkansas Times about the Veteran's Day 5K race December 12, 2009 article in the The Vista Order of the Purple Heart donation February 13, 2010 article in the NW Arkansas Times It also appreared in The Vista on February 17, 2010